Microsoft unveils Windows 8.1 with Cortana voice assistant

Meet Cortana, Microsoft's answer to Siri. Named after an
artificial intelligence character from Halo, the voice
assistant was introduced today during Microsoft's Build Developer
Conference in San Francisco as part of an overhaul of its mobile
operating system, which will be upgraded to Windows Phone 8.1.

Cortana will supposedly be highly customisable and you'll be
able to teach it who your close friends and family are so that only
they will be able to disturb you in moments of quiet. Obviously it
will also be able to perform web searches (powered by Bing -- sad
face), set calendar appointments and reminders, operate apps
including Facebook and Skype and complete a range of other basic
tasks.

Along with Cortana, Windows Phone is getting a new lock screen
and an Action Centre notification drawer. Much like in iOS 7 and in
Android before it, the Action Centre can be opened by sliding a
finger down your phone's screen from the top. From here you'll not
only be able to see your notifications, but also settings for
various apps that you have chosen to appear there.

The operating system now supports an extra row of tiles on the
homescreen and will offer users the option of using a gesture-based
keyboard, which looks a little like Swype for Android. The software
will roll out to Windows Phone users over the next few months and
will be available in new Windows Phone devices at the end of April
or beginning of May.